Tool for straightening sheet metal such as in vehicle bodies and the like



July 28, 1953 w. J. PALMER 2,646,706

TOOL FOR STRAIGHTENING SHEET METAL SUCH AS IN VEHICLE BODIES AND THELIKE Filed May 22, 1950 "FTW 5 20 W/.L /AM J. PALMER w/ IN V EN TOR.

Patented July 28, 1953 TOOL FOR STRAIGHTENING SHEET METAL SUCH AS INVEHICLE BODIES AND THE LIKE v William J. Palmer, Portland, Oreg.

Application May 22, 1950, Serial No. 163,447

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in tools and attachments thereforfor straightening or bending damaged sheet metal such as in vehiclebodies and the like.

It is one of the principal objects of the invention to provide a tool ofthis character which is of simple and rugged construction and positiveand accurate in its operation of straightening dented or accidentallybent sheet metal by pressure applied to both sides of the metal over awide area to smoothly press the metal back into its original shape incontrast to conventional methods wherein a hammer or mallet is used topound the metal against an anvil or the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of various shapes andsizes of pressing and forming elements or dies which are readily adaptedfor quick and convenient attachment to or detachment from the tool.

These and other objects will appear as my invention is more fullyhereinafter described in th following specification, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and finally pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of a tool made in accordance with myinvention.

Figure 2 is a slightly enlarged sectional detail plan view takenapproximately along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figur 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 taken along the line 33 of Figure1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the line 4--4of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view showing thetool in operative engagement with a piece of metal being dealt with.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing:

In Figure 1 reference numeral I indicates generally the main body of thetool shaped as shown and made of material of T-section as bestillustrated in Figure 4 having a horizontal portion 2 and a stifieningrib portion 3. The body member is substantially C-shaped as shown withits upper leg terminating in a housing 4 within which is rotatablymounted a pinion gear 5 by means of a reduced end portion 6 journaledwithin the housing as at 1. The opposite end of the pinion gear isenlarged into a shaft 8 through which an actuating handle or rod 9extends. Slidably mounted for vertical movement through the housing 4 isa gear rack I whose gear teeth I I operatively engage with the teeth ofthe pinion gear so that rotation of the pinion gear will raise or lowerthe rack III with respect to the housing 4. The bottom end of the rackIII is reduced in diameter and threaded as at I2 for removableattachment to one of several pressing and forming elements or dies asindicated at I3 and each of which is formed with a center boss I4internally apertured and threaded for attachment to the reduced andthreaded end I2 of the rack III.

The free end of the opposite leg I5 of th body member is provided withan externally threaded vertical stud I6 upon which is removably secureda companion die IT by means of an internally threaded hub I8 which isbored inwardly from its opposite end as at I9 to receive a projection 20formed on the under side of the die II.

As best illustrated in Figure 5 the tool is presented to the sheet metalbeing dealt with by placing the concave die I3 against one side orsurface of the metal being dealt with and the companion die II againstthe opposite side thereof to resist the action of the die I3 against themetal which bears against the convex surface of the die I3. The underside of the flange portion 2| of the di I3 is provided with a disc 22 ofresilient material attached by means of projections 23 to said flangedportion. This flange yields or compresses at its inner peripherysufiiciently to allow the metal 24 being dealt with to bend smoothly inthe widest possible are around the peripheral edges of the cavity formedin the die I3.

As previously pointed out, the concavity of the attachment I3 and thecorresponding curvature of the companion die I! should be greater thanthe area of the damaged portion of the metal to be repaired so that theentire damaged area of the metal may be positioned within the concavityof the die I3 and in a position to be backed by the anvil or companiondie I! which by reason of its firm mounting on the leg I5 of theC-shaped body member I will resist the downward movement of the gearrack I 0 so as to force and spring the metal up into the cavity I3beyond its normal level, then release or the backing away of the anvilor companion die II from the concavity of the attachment I3 will allowthe metal to spring back into its normal position in relation to theundamaged portion of the metal surrounding it.

While I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention, I amaware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves toothers skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

A metal bending and straightening tool comprising in combination a bodymember of substantially C formation having two opposing legs, a verticalbearing formed in the terminal end of one of said legs, a verticallydisposed hub fixedly secured to. the terminal end of the other of saidlegs, a die removably secured to said. hub, said di being of circularand convex formation over its entire top surface, a gear rack slidablymounted in said vertical bearing. and operable by a pinion gearrotatably mounted in the terminal end of said first-mentioned leg, acircular disc of greater diameter than said die secured to the bottomend of said gear rack, a concentric concavity formed in said disc inopposing relation to said convex surface of said die, said concavitybeing of mating formation to the top surface of said di and equal indiameter to the diameter of said die thus leaving a relatively wideannular flat flange surrounding said concavity, and an annular plate ofresilient material attached to the underside of said annular flangecovering the entire surface thereof.

\VILLIAM; J-. PALMER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberDate 1,663,886 Lutch- Mar. 27, 1928 1,927,304 Buck Sept. 19, 19332,260,624 Johann Oct. 28, 1941 2,490,254 Casazza Dec. 6, 1949 2,528,361Hauschild Oct. 31, 1950 2,543,259 Robbins Feb. 27, 1951

